Worth remembering that they actually lost seats in that election.
Yup, I'd personally put 2010 as a worse election for us than 2005, despite the uptick in the vote. 1997 was still our best-ever performance considering how easy it would have been for us to have been swept up. Ashdown and Kennedy were two outstanding politicians.
FWIW my prediction for this election as it stands today -
Tories - landslide. 180 seat majority. It will take two more years for the Tory con to really hit home.
Labour - polls over-estimate their final support by maybe 2 percent or so. They get a couple less points than Milliband did, but lose marginals to the Tories across the country. Corbyn sticks on as leader, causing the worst crisis in Labour since the war against Militant.
LDs - Anywhere from 10 to 25 seats, based on how well we do once the manifestos are out and the debates/town halls/interviews conclude.
Greens - Someone wins an award for their PPB, which is one of the best I've seen. Lucas continues to be their sole MP (but Bristol West is close.)
SNP - Bad night, Sturgeon says that 2015 was an unusual election and they were expecting losses. They wipe out Labour but lose grounds to Lib Dems and Tories.
Wales - Carwyn Jones does the impossible and avoids a collapse. Tory inroads, but not as bad as expected. Brecon and Radnorshire ends up a close race, as does Cardiff Central.
NI - Alliance sneak back in in in Belfast East, which cheers up Lib Dem activists across the country. Huzzah for DUP/UUP vote splitters!
Portillo moment: Clive Lewis losing his seat is too obvious. As much as it pains me, I think if we have one it'll be a Lib Dem - Norman Lamb.
I think the LDs are the least stable party this election to predict, and that's extremely irritating. It would only take one major piece of bad news to totally sink us. But if folks actually tune into the TV stuff, we have the most to prove. That said, I don't think the ITV interview with Farron was that strong.
We're also living through Maymania. This is entirely deliberate. They've stolen "I Agree with Nick" - "Theresa May's Team."
Absolutely critical this election is going to be if the UKIP vote turns out. Indeed, turnout is going to be crucial across the country. If Leave voters stay home, then this entire election could turn on its head. Remember that the projection after the locals had the Tories on a far worse position - 38%.